Appliance for use in coupling railway-trucks.



No. 730,728. PATENTED JUNE}, 1903.

J. T. WOODS.

APPLIANGE POR USE IN COUPLING RAILWKY TRUCKS. APPLIOATIONfiflUDEO. a, 1902. no menu.

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7 UNITED STATES,

Patented June 9, 1903.

PATENT] OF ICE.

APPLIANCE FOR USE IN.COUPLING-RAILWAY-TRUCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,728, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed December 8,1902. SarialNo.134,399. (No model.) 7

To all whmn it'm/cty concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES THOMAS WOODS,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at No. 454 Collins street, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances to be Used in Coupling Railway- Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention provides an appliance by means of which railway-trucks can be coupled or uncoupled by an operator from the side of the train, so obviating the present necessity of entering between the trucks to place the coupling-chain on or removing it from the hooks.

The invention is most applicable for use in connection with goods-trucks where the coupling-links are at center of truck.

I will now describe the invention with ref- .erence to the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 shows an end view of the appliance with the coupling-chain held, but uncoupled. Fig. 2 shows a similar View with parts in altered position and the chain coupled. Fig. 3 shows side View of the appliance, looking on to end of a truck. Fig. 4 shows plan of the appliance; and Fig. 5, a side view, partly in section, showing parts locked.

A A represent trucks; B B,coupling-hooks. To the end of each truck I attach a bracket 0 and which projects for about two feet from the truck. To the bracket-arm C near its end is pivoted a frame K, that consists of two uprights and a fiat plate K The plate K rests upon the arm 0 and the frame is held'in position by screw-pin K, attached to the frame and which passes through a hole in the arm 0 and is held in place by screw-nut. A pin K connectsthe two uprights of the frame, and upon said pin is hung a tongue J. I employ a long lever F F that passes between the uprights of the frame, the said le'ver being slotted about its center at F to receive the tongue J aforesaid, and the lever is connected to the tongue by a through-pin J and upon which it is free to swing. One arm of the lever forms an operating-handle F and to the end of the other arm F is secured a bent plate or frame G, that is adapted to hold the end link of the coupling-chain II. The device G is in the form of a double hook, with pins G to hold chain in place.

The appliance is so set that the porter or man in charge can couple or uncouple chain by operating the lever-handle F from the side of the truck. The arrangement will permit of a combined three-way movement, whereby the lever-arm F may be elevated or lowered and swung around and moved back and forward, so as to couple or uncouple the link H to the coupling-hook B of the truck A. The movements are as follows: a back-and-forward swing of the lever from the pin K a vertical oscillating movement on the pin J, and a horizontal oscillating movement on the pin K. V

This appliance may be provided also with means for locking the lever during the operation of coupling. This consistsin providing a projection J at end of the tongue J and a plate L, that is hinged to the frame-plate K the plate L being provided with a hole to receive the projection J The plate L is connected to crank-lever M by wire N, and the locking of the lever is accomplished by operating the said crank-lever, which will raise the free end of the plate L with the projection J of the tongue J in the holein plate L, (see Fig. 5,) and while the lever is thus kept from swinging back or forward (with the pin K as the center) the chain may be coupled by the compound lever movement described.

I may employ any simple means for locking the leverto a truck; but such locking device should allow of the free back-and-forward swing of the lever, (from the pin K3,) such movement being given to allow of free play ofthe coupling appliance when train is passing a curve.

One of the said lever constructions above described will be employed in conjunction with each coupling-chain.

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of my said invention and inwhat manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-- 1; Appliance to be used in coupling railway-trucks in combination lever F F arm 0 projected from truck, frame K pivoted to arm, tongue J hinged to the frame and connected to said lever, means at one end of the lever for holding a link of the coupling-chain substantially as and for the purposes debase of tongue J, crank-lever at handle end scribed, i v of long lever connected by wire to plate L,

2. Appliance to be used in coupling railsubstantially as and for the purposes de- Way-trucks, in combination lever FF arm scribed. 15

5 O projected from truck, frame K pivoted to In testimony whereof I have signed my arm, tongue J hinged to the frame and conname to this specification in the presence of nected to said lever, means at one end of letwo subscribing witnesses.

ver for holding a link of the coupling-chain, JAMES THOMAS WOODS. means for preventing back-and-forward swing Witnesses: to ofthelevercomprisingplateLhinged to frame A.-O. SACHSE,

K, a hole in the plate L and a projection at A. HARKER.- 

